Reads Listings: March 11 to 17, 2016

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K.M. Smith Student of the Month

THIS WEEK: March 11 to 17, 2016Leprehaun Loop 5K, the 4th annual family-friendly walk or run around the streets of downtown Bloomsburg, hosted by St. Columba Catholic School. March 12 with check-in 7 to 8:30 a.m. and event at 9 a.m. $18 advance, $25 day of race. Details at saintcolumbaschool.org.Easter Egg Hunt 5K. Walk or run, collecting eggs as you go, on a course throughout the streets of Avoca beginning and ending at Langcliffe Presbyterian Church, 1001 Main St., Avoca. Also: children&#8217;s activities and a post-race pasta lunch. March 12 with registration at 10 a.m., race at 11 a.m. and lunch at noon. $20 includes shirt and lunch. Age 13 and older. Proceeds benefit the Avoca Hose Company and Ruth&#8217;s Place. 570-457-4477 or langcliffeavoca.church/5k.Promised Land State Park Hike, seven moderate miles. Meet at the Park &amp; Ride, Route 315 and Oak Street, Dupont. 10:45 a.m. March 13. Bring water and lunch. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-814-2803.Do-It-Yourself Paracord Bracelet. Make your own survival bracelet with all supplies provided. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. March 13. $5. Registration: 570-828-2319.Grow Your Best Tomatoes, instruction and advice from Penn State Master Gardener Barbara Soyka. West Pittston Library, 200 Exeter Ave. 2 p.m. March 16. Reservations: 570-654-9847.Public Meeting and information session regarding the construction of a new 2.2-mile section of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail in Fell Township. Greater Carbondale YMCA, 82 N. Main St. 5 to 7 p.m. March 16. 570-963-6730.FUTUREMystery Birding Field Trip. Join environmental educator Brian Hardiman on a birding adventure where the destination is not revealed until the day of the trip. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 18. $28. Registration: 570-629-3061.Animal Adaptations, an up-close look at skulls, furs and more to study ways animals adapt to live in a particular habitat. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 7 p.m. March 18. Free. Registration: 570-403-2006.Birding in Frances Slocum State Park, with Bruce Troy of Wild Birds Unlimited. Meet in the parking lot at the Environmental Education Center and boat rental, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Wyoming. 8:30 a.m. March 19. Free. 570-675-9900.Fly Fishing Workshop, with discussions of equipment, casting, strategy, fly-tying, basic trout stream macro-invertebrate entomology and local fishing areas. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 9 a.m. to noon March 19. $8, $5 children. 570-629-3061.My Fascination with Birds: The Story Behind the Photos, a talk by naturalist Rick Koval of WNEP&#8217;s &#8220;Pennsylvania Outdoor Life.&#8221; Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. 11 a.m. March 19. Free. 570-996-1500.Woodcock Walk, a hike to observe the mysterious woodcock and its spectacular spingtime mating display. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 19. Age 10 and older. Free. 570-828-2319.Nescopeck State Park Hike, six moderate miles. Meet at the Park &amp; Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. 11:45 a.m. March 20. Bring water and snacks. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-825-7200.Backyard Beekeeping, a class on &#8220;Summer Apiary Management,&#8221; appropriate for honeybee enthusiasts, designed to support new and seasoned beekeepers. Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center, 93 MacKenzie Road, Covington Township. 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 24. $25. Registration: 570-842-1506.Fire Building, learning primitive and modern fire-making skills including flint and steel fires. Age 10 and older. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10 a.m. to noon March 26. $5. Reservations: 570-828-2319.<ins>Get Outdoors Poconos Hike, a 2.5-mile loop beginning at the Snow Shanty Boat Mooring Area, off Pickerel Point near the Promised Land State Park office, 100 Lower Lake Road, Greentown in Pike County. 10 a.m. March 26. Free but registration required. 570-839-1120 or brodheadwatershed.org.</ins><ins>Easy Does It Hike, a leisurely walk through the woods to learn about natural history. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. March 26. Free. 570-828-2319.</ins><ins>Birding in the Kirby Park Natural Area. Join Bob Wasilewski of the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society to seek out species in the park. Meet at the parking lot by the Nesbitt Park boat launch, accessed via First Avenue in Kingston. 8 a.m. March 27. Free. 570-371-3951.</ins><ins>Milkweed, Monarchs and More, a program on the plight of the butterfly and what you can do to help stop its dwindling population. Presented by Master Gardener Roberta Troy. Sponsored by the North Branch Land Trust at 11 Carverton Road, Trucksville. 6:30 p.m. March 29. $10. Registration: 570-696-5545.</ins><ins>Stalking the Wild Woodcock, learning about the history of the American woodcock and its amazing courtship displays. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 6:30 p.m. March 30. $5, $3 children. 570-629-3061.</ins><ins>Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens, a program on how to contain water to avoid flooding in your backyard by diverting storm water into rain gardens. With Penn State Master Gardener Roberta Troy. Wild Birds Unlimited, Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway. 6 to 7 p.m. March 31. Free. 570-675-9900.</ins><ins>Don&#8217;t Tell Me to Slow Down, the third annual 5K run and walk to benefit the local chapter of the National Stuttering Association and the student-run stuttering support group. Anderson Outdoor Athletic Complex, Misericordia University, 301 Lake St., Dallas. April 2 with registration 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. and event at 10 a.m. $20 by March 17; $25 thereafter. 570-675-6400.</ins><ins>Amazing Amphibians, a talk by John Burns of the American Museum of Natural History. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 10 a.m. April 2. $5. 570-629-3061.</ins><ins>Signs of Spring on the Farm, exploring several areas of the farm to look for early spring flowers, wildlife happenings and more. Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, 347 Quiet Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 2 to 4 p.m. April 2. $6. Registration: 570-629-3061.</ins><ins>Spring Waterfalls, a tour of Pocono waterfalls near the Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 9 a.m. to noon April 3. $10. Call to reserve a seat in the van. 570-828-2319.</ins><ins>Tobyhanna State Park Hike, seven moderate miles. Meet at the Park &amp; Ride, Route 315 and Oak Street, Dupont. 10:45 a.m. April 3. Bring water and lunch. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-842-2230.</ins><ins>Eagle Day, a presentation of live eagles by the Carbon County Environmental Education Center along with stories and crafts about the birds and their role in history. Endless Mountains Nature Center, 1309 Vosburg Road, Tunkhannock. 3 p.m. April 3. Registration: 570-836-3835.</ins><ins>Early Spring Bird Walk, a two-hour stroll along the Kettle Creek trails to seek out early spring arrivals as well as lingering wintering species. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 9:30 a.m. April 9. $5. 570-629-3061.</ins><ins>Bridge the Gap: Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10 a.m. to noon April 10. Free. 570-828-2319.</ins><ins>Geology Hike to learn about rocks, fossils, glacial deposits and more. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. April 10. $5. 570-828-2319.</ins><ins>Mocanaqua Loop Trail Hike, seven difficult miles. Meet at the Park &amp; Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. 11:45 a.m. April 10. Bring water and snacks. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-825-7200.</ins><ins>Jog for Jude 5K, a run/walk to &#8220;Stomp Out SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome),&#8221; held in memory of Jude Zayac who passed away from SIDS in 2014. Dunmore Community Center, 1414 Monroe Ave., Scranton. April 17 with check-in at 7:30 a.m. and race at 9 a.m. Rain or shine. Followed by a post-race celebration with children&#8217;s activities, awards, a balloon release and more. Register at judezayacfoundation.com.</ins><ins>Penobscot Mountain Hike, with sustained uphill hiking and three excellent views. Meet at the Park &amp; Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. 11:45 a.m. April 17. Bring water and snacks. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-855-9896.</ins><ins>Pond Explorers. Use nets to collect fish, macro-invertebrates, amphibians and more for up-close study. Wear boots and plan on getting wet and muddy. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. April 17. $5. 570-828-2319.</ins><ins>Edible Landscaping, how to grow a beautiful edible garden with tips from Penn State Master Gardener Donna Zagrapan. Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center, 93 MacKenzie Road, Covington Township. 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 20. $5. Registration: 570-842-1506.</ins><ins>Salamanders, Frogs and More! Explore breeding pools for egg masses, frogs and salamanders. Nets and collection jars provided. Wear boots and clothes that can get a little wet and muddy. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10 a.m. to noon April 23. $5. 570-828-2319.</ins><ins>Ironmaster&#8217;s Challenge, the seventh annual 50K Ultra and 15K Challenge for both runners and hikers who traverse rustic trails through a state forest, state park and private game preserve with numerous scenic vistas throughout. Pine Grove Furnace State Park, 1212 Pine Grove Road, Gardners. April 24. $65 for 50K; $40 for 15K by April 1; $75, $50 afterwards. Includes tech t-shirt, breakfast, snacks and drinks, goodie bags and a finish-line picnic. Registration on line only at pretzelcitysports.com.</ins><ins>Introduction to Fly Fishing, learning the basics including knot tying and casting with Will Daskal from the Brodhead Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 9 a.m. to noon April 24. $15. 570-828-2319.</ins><ins>Hawkeye Ski Trail Hike, seven moderate miles at Loyalsock State Park with stream crossings. Meet at the abandoned bank at the corner of Routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek. 9:45 a.m. April 24. Bring water and lunch. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-655-4979.</ins><ins>Backyard Beekeeping, a session for honeybee enthusiasts on internal and environmental challenges faced by the bees. Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center, 93 MacKenzie Road, Covington Township. 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 28. $25. Registration: 570-842-1506.</ins><ins>Spring into Gardening Workshop, with sessions on growing and using herbs, gardening for birds and butterflies, organic gardening, insects, GMOs, an introduction to pruning, straw-bale gardening and tips for easier and safer gardening. With keynote speaker Vincent Cotrone, regional urban forester. Technology Center, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 1269 Old Route 115, Lehman Township. 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 30. $35 includes lunch. Register by April 22 at <a href="http://extension.psu.edu">http://extension.psu.edu</a>.</ins><ins>Tweets and Treats, a hike focusing on bird identification and their unique natural history. Breakfast snacks and beverages served before the hike. Binoculars and field guides provided. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 9 to 11 a.m. May 1. $5. 570-828-2319.</ins><ins>D&amp;H Distance Run, the ninth annual 13.1-mile &#8220;out and back&#8221; race on the D&amp;H Rail Trail in Susquehanna County. 9 a.m. Sept. 11. $40. Register at dhdistancerun.com.</ins>

Outdoors Listings: March 11 to 17, 2016